Wednesday, 09 March 2022
The kick-off meeting of the GLEBioassay project, led by ICN2 group leader ICREA Prof. Arben Merkoçi, took place at the ICN2 on Wednesday 9 March. The project aims to develop a multiplexed point-of-care nanobiosensing platform to monitor the efficiency of naxitamab-based immunotherapy in neuroblastoma.
Wednesday, 02 March 2022
An innovative nano-biosensor for fast, quantitative and accurate COVID-19 serology, which achieves the high reliability of specialised laboratory analysis with the short times and simplicity of rapid self-tests, has been developed by a team of researchers led by Prof. Laura M. Lechuga, head of the ICN2 NanoBiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group. This work has been developed in collaboration with the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Research Institute (VHIR, Barcelona) and the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona–IDIBAPS –which provided the clinical samples and the validation— and the Emerging Virus Unit of Aix-Marseille University (France).
Thursday, 10 February 2022
Elphbolt is the first software for simulating charge and thermal transport in solid materials that allows integrating the reciprocal effect of electrons and phonons into the calculations. This new free tool will enable detailed studies of transport phenomena in solids, with probable impact on the search for thermopower materials for green energy applications.
Wednesday, 09 February 2022
A project aiming at the nano-monitoring of cancer immunotherapy efficiency through a graphene electrophoretic bioassay platform, GLEBioassay, is one of the ten selected in the 12th Joint Trasnational Call for funding of the EuroNanoMed platform. The consortium will be led by Prof. Arben Merkoçi.
Monday, 07 February 2022
With €150,000 each, the SAFE-ON and COOLGRAELE projects will further develop the pioneering research carried out thanks to previous ERC funding and plan the transference of their technologies to the industry and, thus, the market.
Thursday, 13 January 2022
The ICN2 is now among the academic members of the N4SN consortium of leading organizations in the field of nanotechnology. Its main function is the promotion of nanotechnology advancement and applications as a key mechanism for sustainability to bring positive and impactful solutions to society.
Thursday, 13 January 2022
A paper in “Chemical Society Review” discusses the progress over the last ten years in the development of biological and chemical sensing platforms for the detection of target analytes at ultra-low abundance level (attomolar). This work was coordinated by ICN2 group leader ICREA Prof. Arben Merkoçi and Prof. V.V.R. Sai, from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM).
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
A study published in Nature Nanotechnology shows that flexible brain probes made of graphene micro-transistors can be used to record pathological brain signals associated with epilepsy with excellent fidelity and high spatial resolution. This research was led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC) and the University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology (UK).
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
The award was celebrated at the Saló de Cent of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (Barcelona City Hall). Different personalities of the national Health system were also awarded, together with an in memoriam award for the activist and feminist Núria Gispert.
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
Experts in quantum science and technology coming from academy and industry met in Bilbao on the occasion of Quantum 2021, a three-day event meant to become the first of a new series of international conferences dedicated to this emerging and promising field of research. The ICN2 is among the organizers.
Wednesday, 24 November 2021
A research team coordinated by Dr. Víctor J. Yuste of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) demonstrated that the administration of a substance called “gossypol” to cells of glioblastoma, an incurable type of brain cancer, facilitates their death through the natural apoptosis mechanism. This study, in which took part members of the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, opens up a new avenue in the search for a treatment for glioblastoma.
Thursday, 04 November 2021
This year’s edition of the BIST annual conference discussed the current state of quantum technologies and the future plans for their development and application, with a special focus on projects ongoing in Catalonia. Representatives of research centres (including the ICN2) and the industrial sector were invited to contribute to the debate.
Wednesday, 01 September 2021
A scientific paper recently published in “Materials Today” highlights the potentialities offered by electrochromic materials for the development of portable and easy-to-use bio-sensing platforms. This work, coordinated by ICREA Prof. Arben Merkoçi, provides a comprehensive description and discussion about these materials, their properties, state-of-the art applications as biosensors and new opportunities and challenges in this field.
Wednesday, 28 July 2021
ICN2 researchers Dr Thomas Guillet, Christian Schäfer, and Peng Xiao will be able to complete a short stay at internationally renowned centres to develop part of their research and acquire new expertise. Applications for the Severo Ochoa Outbound Mobility Programme, which covers expenses up to 3000 euros, will be open until the end of September 2021.
Tuesday, 20 July 2021
In a review just published in Nature Nanotechnology, the recent progress and enormous potential of van der Waals heterostructures are highlighted. These artificial materials, made up of layers of different 2D crystals, can be designed to exhibit specific functionalities to be harnessed in spintronic and opto-spintronic devices.
Monday, 05 July 2021
The first edition of a new conference dedicated to topological quantum system was held between June 28 and July 1, 2021.
Monday, 28 June 2021
Prof. Laura Lechuga, leader of the ICN2 Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group, received today the "XVIII Burdinola Research Award" in recognition of her career path and important work in the field of nanosensors for medical applications.
Thursday, 10 June 2021
A paper published in “Analytical Chemistry” describes an enhanced biosensing platform based on lateral-flow-assay (LFA) for point-of-care analysis. Cheap, easy to use and portable as LFA, this paper-based electrophoretic bioassay (PEB) allows performing tests on viscous samples, as whole blood, without the need for pretreatment steps. This research was developed by members of the ICN2 Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group.
Monday, 07 June 2021
An article just published in “Nature Materials” discusses the implementation of a qubit system based on the interacting spins of holes, confined in a silicon-germanium quantum device. These qubits can be operated with small magnetic fields. Members of the ICN2 Advanced Electron Nanoscopy Group participated in the characterization of the fabricated structures.
Tuesday, 01 June 2021
In a study just published in “ACS Nano”, polymeric nanoparticles inspired by natural neuromelanin were used to encapsulate dopamine and to be administered via intranasal to reach the brain for Parkinson’s disease treatment. This work was coordinated by ICN2 Group Leader Dr Daniel Ruiz-Molina and Dr Julia Lorenzo, Group Leader at the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB) of UAB, and developed in collaboration with the group led by Prof. Miquel Vila at VHIR.
